Hatch construction



Jan. 8, 1963 H. wENzEL ETAL vHATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 4, 1960 H. WENZEL ETAL HATCH CONSTRUCTION Jan. 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1960 f \1 mi ATTORNEYS 3,072,l78 HATCH CNSTRUCIN Hans Wenzel, Bad-Doberan, and Ralf Bauer, l

mande, Germany, assignors to institut fur Rostoeli-sthafen, Germany Filed Aug. d, 196i?, No, 47,54@ Claims priority, application @Germany Fein 2d, lite@ l@ Claims. (Ci. ldd-militia) This invention relates in general to ship hatch construction and in particular to a new and useful hatch construction including means for opening and closing the hatch cover.

The present invention has particular `application to a hatch construction which includes a cover comprising a plurality of individual cover portions arranged in a row and hingedly connected together. With hatch constructions of `this type, it is usual to remove the covers by pulling them olf the hatch with the aid of a separate windlass arranged on the ships deck.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a novel means for opening `the hatch which iucludes a windlass member having end wheels with `two or more separate engagement discs of different diameters which are adapted to run over track memlbers disposed on the edges of the hatch and arranged in alignment with the individual disc members on the windlass.

The arrangement permits removal of the hatch cover by attaching an end of the first cover member `to appropriately shaped outstanding disc portions of a windlass and by pulling a line arranged on a drum on lan end of the windlass to cause rotation of the wndlass shaft. The windlass is provided on each side with a plurality of discs of dierent diameters. As the cover is wound upon the 4windlass, the smallest diameter disc travels in engagement with a first track section arranged on each side of fthe hatch. After a single layer of the cover members has been wound on the windlass, the next larger disc engages the next offset track section on the sides of the hatch so that the windlass axle is elevated as it is moved. The cover members are thus wound around the windlass axle in several layers `while the axle is elevated as the windlass is moved across the hatch to open the same.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved hatch cover removal mechanism.

A further object of the invention is `to provide a hatch construction including a cover comprising a plurality of hingedly connected portions and means for removing the cover, including a windlass having on each end discs of different diameters arranged `to run on offset track sections aligned with respective discs on each side of the hatch whereby the cover may be wound on the windlass as the latter is pulled in a given direction, and, after the first layer of cover members has been wound thereon, the next larger size diameter wheel will engage a track section so that the windlass is elevated as the cover is wound.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Windlass for removal of a hatch cover, which includes means for shifting the level of the axis of the windlass as the cover is wound thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a windlass for the removal of a hatch cover, which includes drum means on each end for winding a line therearound, said line being wound so that the hatch cover is placed kann@ on the hatch when the line is pulled off one drum and thehatch cover is remo-ved from the hatch when the line is pulled oil the other drum.

A `further object of the invention is to provide a hatch construction which includes means for removing a hatch cover, which is composed of a small number of parts, is of low weight, and permits conservation of deck space, greater safety of operation and requires little maintenance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hatch construction including windlass means for removing a hatch cover, which is simple in design, rugged in construction-and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a 'better understanding of the invention, its operating `advantages and specic objects obtained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter' in which are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FiG. l is a diagrammatic showing in side View of a hatch including a cover construction with la multi-disc windlass means for removing the cover, as constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a View similar to PEG. l but indicating the end of the hatch with the cover in place and with the windlass means in an end position moved downwardly;

FlGL 3 is a fragmentary top plan view indicating one set of guide rails on the side of the hatch of FlG. l;

FIG. 4 is a section tasen on the line 4 4 of FiG. l; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation indicating means for improving engagement between the guide rails and the windlass discs.

Referring to the drawings in particular, there is provided a rectangular hatch including a hatch sill l, across which is positioned a plurality of laterally elongated hatch cover members 2 which are hingedly connected together at i2.

in accordance with the invention means are provided for opening and closing the hatch by removing the cover members 2 which includes a windlass generally designated ld which comprises a central shaft 3 supported on each end of wheel members generally designated l0 and having a plurality of discs 5' of different diameter Sizes on their peripheries, which ride on respective guide rails '6 mounted on a sill girdle '7 on each side of the hatch (best seen in FlGS. i1, 3 and 4).

The windlass 14 also includes cable drums 8 on each end on the exterior of the wheel members lil upon which cables 9a and 9b are Wound. The cable 9a is wound in one direction and the cable 9b is wound in the opposite direction. Pulling of the cable 9a as indicated in FIG. 1 will cause movement of the drum as indicated 4by the arrow at 9a to open the hatch whereas pulling of the cable 9b in the opposite direction off the associated drum 8 will cause movement of the Windlass in the direction of the arrow at 9b to cause closing of the hatch.

When it is desired to remove the hatch cover, the rst cover member 2 is secured to correspondingly contoured disc extensions 'd on each side of the windlass shaft 3 and the windlass is moved by pulling the cable 9a. At the start, the outer disc portion 5a (FIGS. 3 and 4) on each side of the windlass contacts a first guide rail 6a; the

d-iameter of the disc a is chosen so that one complete wrapping or layer of the cover members is Wound around the shaft 3. Thereupon, the next guide rail 6b comes into action to contact the next disc 5b which is of somewhat greater diameter so that the axis of the shaft 3 is raised. (It should be appreciated that the drawings are diagrammatic and that the scale is not shown in proportion). As shown in FiG. 4, the cover members T, are made hollow so that the second layer will be substantially nested inside the first layer already wound on shaft 3.

In FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the separate disc portions 5a, 5b and 5c are shown with a corresponding number of trackway or rail sections (in, 6b and tic, cooperating lto lift the shaft 3 in gradual steps as the hatch cover is ybeing Wound. This disc portions will each contact a respective guide rail section in sequence as they are moved thereover during the progression of the windlass to a fully opened position.

Each disc portion (except the rst one having the smallest diameter) also acts as an inner flange preventing the previous, more outwardly disc portion from slipping off the corresponding guide rail section. An innermost disc portion 5d is provided which does not have a rail section counterpart and prevents derailment of the portion 5c.

As shown in FIG. 1, the disc portions 5b and 5c have an inwardly sloping portion reducing the disc diameters to those of the respective preceding disc portions 5a and 5b. These spiral-shaped portions are adapted to avoid sudden changes in height of the -windlass while the hatch cover is picked up, since the beginning of, say, disc portion 5c is at the same radial distance from shaft 3 as the end of portion 5b. The windlass is elevated while the sloping disc portions roll over the corresponding rail sections. Thus, when the extreme edge of 4the first cover member is lifted oif the hatch as it is wound on the windlass shaft 3, the angle of lift of the cover need not be great and the distance of lift is not great to effect its winding on the shaft. After a first layer of the cover members is wound around the shaft 3, if the windlass were to remain in the same location it would not be possible to continue to roll the Windlass on the guide rails 6. At this point the next disc 5b contacts the rail section 5b and the shaft is elevated, as explained in the preceding paragraph, to permit the next layer to be wound thereon. Hereafter the next disc `5c hits the next guide rail section 6c and the shaft 3 is elevated again, and so on, until the complete hatch cover is removed.

As indicated in PEG. 2, the sill girdle portions 7 are notched or recessed at the extreme ends as indicated at 7a to permit the wheels 1o of the windlass to be moved into a downward rest position when the latter is not in use. When it is desired to use the windlass for removing the hatch cover, the windlass is moved from the solid line position 5a to the dot-dash line position 5a indicated in FlG. 2. The hatch cover members 2 are shown on the hatch sill l. lt will be appreciated that the notches or recesses 7a of the sill girdle portions 7 can also be provided on the end not shown in FlG. 2, where the windlass is located with the cover members 2 already wound around the disc extensions d.

In FIG. 5, another feature of the invention is indicated in which the guide rails 6 are provided with rowed members or protuberances 11 which are welded to the top surface thereof and the discs S are correspondingly notched so that the windlass will grip the members l1 for positive traction when opening the hatch cover.

Closing of the hatch cover is done in reverse order from opening and is accomplished merely by pulling the cable 9b from the drum 8 and in this case, the opposite cable 9a may be used as a braking cable. With the arrangement just described it is possible to accurately machine the discs 5 so that upon each revolution of the windlass a complete wrapping of the cover members around the shaft 3 occurs and the next diameter disc moves into envrespect to the cover.

gagement with the next rail portion `so that the next layer will be wound with the shaft 3 at an elevated position in Thus the invention provides a simple means for opening and closing hatch covers without requiring extra devices arranged on the deck and occupying considerable deck space.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A hatch cover removal device for a hatch having an opening, comprising guide rail means extending along each side of said hatch and including laterally offset rail portions, a removable hatch cover for said opening, a windlass including a central shaft upon which said hatch cover is wound, and wheel members on each side of said shaft including wheel portions of increasing diameters laterally offset by the same amount as said rail portions, said wheel portions progressively engaging said rail portions as said wheel members are rotated to wind said hatch cover on said shaft while the latter is progressively elevated and said hatch cover is remove-d and wound thereupon.

2. A hatch cover removal device according to claim l, wherein said Wheel portions of increasing diameters are formed with a sloping outline.

3. A hatch cover removal device according to claim 1, wherein said wheel portions include separate axially spaced disc members and wherein the lateral offset of said rail portions is equivalent to the spacing of said disc members.

4. A hatch cover removal device according to claim l, further including a cable drum attached to said shaft, whereby unwinding of a cable therefrom is effective to rotate said shaft.

5. A hatch cover removal device according to claim 1, further including a cable drum on each side of said shaft, whereby a cable may Abe wound in opposite direction on each of said drums to cause rotation of said shaft in a given direction upon removal of one of said cables from the respective drum.

6. A hatch cover removal device according to claim 1, further including spaced protuberances formed along said rail portions and wherein said wheel portions include recesses adapted to engage said protuberances as said wheel members are progressed along said guide rail means.

7. A hatch cover removal device according to claim l, wherein said laterally offset wheel portions have each a starting and an ending arcuate section, the ending section of at least one wheel member having the same diameter as the starting section of the next smaller Wheel member, said arcuate sections in the adjoining wheel members forming portions of a continuous spiral.

8. ln a hatch construction including a substantially rectangular upstanding sill member supporting a hatch cover comprising substantially horizontal hinged cover plates, the improvement comprising guide rails extending along said hatch and including laterally offset individual sections, a windlass including a central shaft, wheel members on each end of said shaft including wheel portions of increasing diameters laterally offset by the same amount as said guide rail sections, said guide rail sections being arranged so that when said hatch is covered the section adjacent the end of said hatch accommodating the empty windiass is in engagement with the wheel portion of smallest diameter and the next guide rail section progressing along said hatch is in alignment with the wheel portion of next largest diameter and so on, whereby said shaft is elevated progressively when said hatch cover plates are wound about said shaft for removal from said hatch.

9. in a hatch construction, the improvement according to claim 8, wherein said wheel portions are of diameters and said guide rail sections are of lengths chosen to eect Wrapping of said cover plates around said shaft in a single complete layer While one of said wheel portions is in engagement with the corresponding guide rail section and to thereafter bring the next adjacent diameter size Wheel portion into alignment with the next guide rail section and so on.

10. In a hatch construction, the improvement according to claim 8, wherein said sill members are provided With recesses adjacent one end of said hatch to permit said wheel members to be lowered therein when reaching the respective end of said guide rails.

'References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A HATCH COVER REMOVAL DEVICE FOR A HATCH HAVING AN OPENING, COMPRISING GUIDE RAIL MEANS EXTENDING ALONG EACH SIDE OF SAID HATCH AND INCLUDING LATERALLY OFFSET RAIL PORTIONS, A REMOVABLE HATCH COVER FOR SAID OPENING, A WINDLASS INCLUDING A CENTRAL SHAFT UPON WHICH SAID HATCH COVER IS WOUND, AND WHEEL MEMBERS ON EACH SIDE OF SAID SHAFT INCLUDING WHEEL PORTIONS OF INCREASING DIAMETERS LATERALLY OFFSET BY THE SAME AMOUNT AS SAID RAIL PORTIONS, SAID WHEEL PORTIONS PROGRESSIVELY ENGAGING SAID RAIL PORTIONS AS SAID WHEEL MEMBERS ARE ROTATED TO WIND SAID HATCH COVER ON SAID SHAFT WHILE THE LATTER IS PROGRESSIVELY ELEVATED AND SAID HATCH COVER IS REMOVED AND WOUND THEREUPON. 